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OSHA Lead in Construction Advisor

1926.62 (f) RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

(f)(1) General.

Where the use of respirators is required under this section the
employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, and assure
the use of respirators which comply with the requirements of this
paragraph.

Respirators shall be used in the following circumstances:

(1)(i) Whenever an employee's exposure to lead exceeds the PEL;(1)(ii) In work situations in which engineering controls and work
practices are not sufficient to reduce exposures to or below the
PEL;(1)(iii) Whenever an employee requests a respirator; and(1)(iv) An interim protection for employees performing tasks as
specified in paragraph (d)(2) of this section.

(f)(2) Respirator Selection.

(2)(i) Where respirators are used under this section the employer
shall select the appropriate respirator or combination of
respirators from Table 1 below.

(2)(ii) The employer shall provide a powered, air-purifying
respirator in lieu of the respirator specified in Table 1
whenever:

An employee chooses to use this type of respirator; and

This respirator will provide adequate protection to the
employee.

(2)(iii) The employer shall select respirators from among those
approved for protection against lead dust, fume, and mist by the
Mine Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the provisions
of 30 CFR Part 11.

- Full facepiece SCBA operated in pressure demand or other positive-pressure mode.

Footnote (1)

Respirators specified for higher concentrations can be
used at lower concentrations of lead.

Footnote (2)

Full facepiece is required if the lead aerosols cause eye
or skin irritation at the use concentrations.

Footnote (3)

A high efficiency particulate filter (HEPA) means a
filter that is a 99.97 percent efficient against particles
of 0.3 micron size or larger.

(f)(3) Respirator Usage.

(3)(i) The employer shall assure that the respirator issued to the
employee exhibits minimum facepiece leakage and that the
respirator is fitted properly.

(3)(ii) Employers shall perform either quantitative or
qualitative face fit tests at the time of initial fitting and at
least every six months thereafter for each employee wearing
negative pressure respirators. The qualitative fit tests may be
used only for testing the fit of half-mask respirators where they
are permitted to be worn, and shall be conducted in accordance
with appendix D. The tests shall be used to select facepieces
that provide the required protection as prescribed in Table 1.

(3)(iii) If an employee exhibits difficulty in breathing during
the fitting test or during use, the employer shall make available
to the employee an examination in accordance with paragraph
(j)(3)(i)(B) of this section to determine whether the employee
can wear a respirator while performing the required duty.

(f)(4) Respirator Program.

(4)(i) The employer shall institute a respiratory protection
program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134 (b), (d), (e) and (f).

(4)(ii) The employer shall permit each employee who uses a filter
respirator to change the filter elements whenever an increase in
breathing resistance is detected and shall maintain an adequate
supply of filter elements for this purpose.

(4)(iii) Employees who wear respirators shall be permitted to
leave work areas to wash their face and respirator facepiece
whenever necessary to prevent skin irritation associated with
respirator use.